Plans for west Ocala grocery, shopping center closer to fruition

Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 5:22 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 5:22 p.m.

There still is some work to be done, but a plan to build a shopping center with a grocery store in west Ocala is closer to fruition.

“They are really close to making this happen,” Scott Hackmyer said during a presentation he made Tuesday morning to the Governors West Ocala Neighborhood Revitalization Council board on behalf of Howard Gunn, Bobby James and the Rev. Frederic Washington of M2PCD.

M2PCD is spearheading the project.

Hackmyer, who sits on the board of the Florida Low Income Housing Associates Inc., told the council board that M2PCD has raised about $4.5 million of the estimated $5.5 million needed for the development.

Preliminary architectural drawings have been developed, one for a single-story shopping center and the other for a two-story one, with either retail or residential on the top floor,

“It’s a very pretty shopping area,” Hackmyer said. “We are very aware this is a gateway into the city. It is very important to this group that this shopping center has a very good appearance.”

A national grocery store chain has made a commitment to the project, pending negotiation of a fair, appropriate lease. If that does not materialize, Hackmyer said, there are two other grocery stores interested in the project. And, he said, a national fast food franchise is interested in an out parcel.

“This is a designated food desert,” Hackmyer said about Ocala’s west side, where no large grocery stores exist. “We see it as a way to provide groceries at a fair price to people who have not had a local grocery store and as a way to provide fresh produce working with the Black Farmers’ Association.”

He said that, according to the U.S. Census, 46 percent of the population in west Ocala, which is largely an African-American community, does not have its own transportation.

The city of Ocala hired a consultant who confirmed that west Ocala could support a grocery store.

Hackmyer said it is a matter of community health that fresh fruit and vegetables are available and the grocery store is willing to sell locally-grown produce. So, this also is an economic development project.

The city of Ocala has given the land for the project on the south side of State Road 40, also known as West Silver Springs Boulevard, just east of Southwest 24th Avenue, where the Ocala Police Department substation sits. Plans would incorporate the substation into the shopping center. The land is part of the equity in the development, and an engineer for Frank Stronach, the largest private landowner in Marion County, has donated his services for preliminary engineering work. Hackmyer said Workforce Connection is willing to assist with training costs.

“The group has secured tax credits and they do have a commitment from a bank,” Hackmyer said.

He said the U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to be a $10 million second guarantor on the project’s loan. The group still has to find a primary guarantor, but it is hoped that the USDA commitment will make that easier to secure. Hackmyer said the Florida Low Income Housing Associates Inc. is assisting in trying to find the additional financing. He asked for a letter of support from the Governors West council, which was approved unanimously.

Gunn said the tax credits are up in April. “In April, we want to have the financing in place,” he said.

Gunn said the shopping center would be 31,000 square feet. He said the property is about 5.63 acres, which includes two parcels the group has options to buy.

“This has been a desert, not only a food desert,” Gunn said. “These things are serious. We talk about healthy food and healthy people. We have to be healthy economically.”

He said there is money in the black community.

“We have the resources,” Gunn said. “We need the voice and support of each other.”

Washington said Tuesday afternoon he was excited about the project and the support it has received from the community and City Hall.

“We see it as a catalyst to a lot of economic development,” said Washington, youth minister for New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church.

He said the plans include a wellness center in the center, which will not be a strip mall but rather a town center concept.

“We have a top-notch consulting group that specializes in bringing quality, affordable care to very low-income communities,” Washington said. “It’s all a part of the healthy foods initiative, which really tries to promote a healthy lifestyle.”

Governors West Ocala Neighborhood Revitalization Council Chairman Ire Bethea urged the board, in keeping with its goal to keep the community informed about issues facing west Ocala, to encourage friends, neighbors, churches and organizations to support the project and shop at any of the stores that develop.

<p>There still is some work to be done, but a plan to build a shopping center with a grocery store in west Ocala is closer to fruition.</p><p>“They are really close to making this happen,” Scott Hackmyer said during a presentation he made Tuesday morning to the Governors West Ocala Neighborhood Revitalization Council board on behalf of Howard Gunn, Bobby James and the Rev. Frederic Washington of M2PCD.</p><p>M2PCD is spearheading the project.</p><p>Hackmyer, who sits on the board of the Florida Low Income Housing Associates Inc., told the council board that M2PCD has raised about $4.5 million of the estimated $5.5 million needed for the development.</p><p>Preliminary architectural drawings have been developed, one for a single-story shopping center and the other for a two-story one, with either retail or residential on the top floor,</p><p>“It's a very pretty shopping area,” Hackmyer said. “We are very aware this is a gateway into the city. It is very important to this group that this shopping center has a very good appearance.”</p><p>A national grocery store chain has made a commitment to the project, pending negotiation of a fair, appropriate lease. If that does not materialize, Hackmyer said, there are two other grocery stores interested in the project. And, he said, a national fast food franchise is interested in an out parcel.</p><p>“This is a designated food desert,” Hackmyer said about Ocala's west side, where no large grocery stores exist. “We see it as a way to provide groceries at a fair price to people who have not had a local grocery store and as a way to provide fresh produce working with the Black Farmers' Association.”</p><p>He said that, according to the U.S. Census, 46 percent of the population in west Ocala, which is largely an African-American community, does not have its own transportation.</p><p>The city of Ocala hired a consultant who confirmed that west Ocala could support a grocery store.</p><p>Hackmyer said it is a matter of community health that fresh fruit and vegetables are available and the grocery store is willing to sell locally-grown produce. So, this also is an economic development project.</p><p>The city of Ocala has given the land for the project on the south side of State Road 40, also known as West Silver Springs Boulevard, just east of Southwest 24th Avenue, where the Ocala Police Department substation sits. Plans would incorporate the substation into the shopping center. The land is part of the equity in the development, and an engineer for Frank Stronach, the largest private landowner in Marion County, has donated his services for preliminary engineering work. Hackmyer said Workforce Connection is willing to assist with training costs.</p><p>“The group has secured tax credits and they do have a commitment from a bank,” Hackmyer said.</p><p>He said the U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to be a $10 million second guarantor on the project's loan. The group still has to find a primary guarantor, but it is hoped that the USDA commitment will make that easier to secure. Hackmyer said the Florida Low Income Housing Associates Inc. is assisting in trying to find the additional financing. He asked for a letter of support from the Governors West council, which was approved unanimously.</p><p>Gunn said the tax credits are up in April. “In April, we want to have the financing in place,” he said.</p><p>Gunn said the shopping center would be 31,000 square feet. He said the property is about 5.63 acres, which includes two parcels the group has options to buy.</p><p>“This has been a desert, not only a food desert,” Gunn said. “These things are serious. We talk about healthy food and healthy people. We have to be healthy economically.”</p><p>He said there is money in the black community.</p><p>“We have the resources,” Gunn said. “We need the voice and support of each other.”</p><p>Washington said Tuesday afternoon he was excited about the project and the support it has received from the community and City Hall.</p><p>“We see it as a catalyst to a lot of economic development,” said Washington, youth minister for New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church.</p><p>He said the plans include a wellness center in the center, which will not be a strip mall but rather a town center concept.</p><p>“We have a top-notch consulting group that specializes in bringing quality, affordable care to very low-income communities,” Washington said. “It's all a part of the healthy foods initiative, which really tries to promote a healthy lifestyle.”</p><p>Governors West Ocala Neighborhood Revitalization Council Chairman Ire Bethea urged the board, in keeping with its goal to keep the community informed about issues facing west Ocala, to encourage friends, neighbors, churches and organizations to support the project and shop at any of the stores that develop.</p><p><i>Contact Susan Latham Carr at 867-4156 or susan.carr@starbanner.com.</i></p>